The annual Leonid meteor shower peak is coming this weekend, and while it may not be the brightest and most spectacular meteor event of the year, it’s still worth seeking out.
The Leonids result from the Earth passing through the trail of the comet Tempel-Tuttle (55P/Tempel-Tuttle), which was first discovered in 1865. But meteor shower predates that: The 1833 event is said to have produced over 100,000 meteors an hour, and the 1966 shower saw thousands of meteors per minute in a 15-minute span in the early hours of Nov. 17. The best storms circle back about every 33 years—2024 isn’t one of them, but the Leonids will be most visible to dedicated skywatchers in just a few days.
How to watch this year’s Leonid shower
The 2024 Leonid shower has been active since Nov. 3 and is predicted to peak early on Nov. 18, with the best viewing late on Nov. 17 into the early hours of November 18 (and possibly the morning of Nov. 17 as well). While the meteors radiate from a point near the constellation Leo, they’ll likely appear in all parts of the night sky.
In ideal conditions, the Leonids produce 10–15 meteors per hour. Unfortunately, the shower won’t be as visible this year thanks to a waning gibbous moon, which will be 98% illuminated on peak night. But that doesn’t mean it will be a complete bust. EarthSky has a handful of recommendations for minimizing moon interference:
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Find an open space with minimal light pollution.
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Sit in a shadow, whether that’s a peak or a row of tall trees or next to a building.
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Focus on the quality of individual meteors versus the quantity of the shower as a whole.
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Look for earthgrazers (long-lasting meteors traveling horizontally) and fireballs (bright meteors).
If you’re headed out to find the Leonids, bring everything you need to get comfy and stay cozy for awhile—you could be rewarded for your effort.